Best non-Bond spy movies of all time?

Comments

• caractacus potts Orbital communicator, level 10Posts: 4,108MI6 Agent

  January 2020

  the Thirty Nine Steps
  Notorious
  and at least a half dozen other Hitchcocks, but I think these two are essential
  
  The Third Man
  not technically a spy story, but of interest to spy story fans
  
  the Manchurian Candidate
  
  Three Days of the Condor
  
  I like spy stories where things get all morally ambiguous and paranoid. Our Bond films tend to err with their clear cut distinction between Good and Evil.
• Mr Martini That nice house in the sky.Posts: 2,707MI6 Agent

  January 2020

  First one that comes to mind is Sneakers.

  Some people would complain even if you hang them with a new rope
• Hardyboy Posts: 5,906Chief of Staff

  January 2020

  I agree with Caracatus that Notorious should be up there--it's arguably the GREATEST spy film ever made. I'm also a big fan of Martin Ritt's adaptation of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.

  Vox clamantis in deserto
• Number24 NorwayPosts: 22,334MI6 Agent

  January 2020

  Yes, Notorious should probably be on my list too. I often wish Hitchcock made a version of CR in the same style and tone.
• Smithers500 Spectre IslandPosts: 1,347MI6 Agent

  January 2020

  North by Northwest, equally as good as Notorious, gets my vote.

  Japanese proverb say, "Bird never make nest in bare tree".
• Charmed & Dangerous Posts: 7,358MI6 Agent

  January 2020

  I was just about to type North by Northwest too - -{
  
  Our Man Flint, The Quiller Memorandum, The Liquidator and a handful of others are also great fun spy films from the golden age of spy movies.

  "How was your lamb?" "Skewered. One sympathises."
• Number24 NorwayPosts: 22,334MI6 Agent

  January 2020

  There is a genere that focuses on information gathering and surveillance, but in the field of crime fighting and not military and political secrets.
  The Conversation, Internal Affairs and the brilliant TV series The Wire are examples of this. I'd say this is a genere related to spy movies without actualllly being spy movies. Others may argue differently of course.
  
  Eye in the Sky (2015) should be added to my list. It's a overlooked thriller about drone warfare, a field of warfare that's far more important in real life than in the movies. Very tense and inteligent.
• Gala Brand Posts: 1,172MI6 Agent

  January 2020

  "Our Man in Havana," starring Alec Guinness from a novel by Graham Greene (who was a part-time MI6 operative).
• Barbel ScotlandPosts: 37,860Chief of Staff

  January 2020

  Take your pick from the Harry Palmer flicks-
  
  The Ipcress File, Funeral In Berlin, Billion-Dollar Brain
• caractacus potts Orbital communicator, level 10Posts: 4,108MI6 Agent

  January 2020

  this is getting to be a good list, several I've never heard of before.
  
  since we're including silly ones, I'm proud to be the first to say:
  Austin Powers
• Gala Brand Posts: 1,172MI6 Agent

  January 2020

  As mentioned above, Hitchcock was the master of the spy film. In addition to those referenced, Saboteur and Sabotage are very good and North By Northwest is great. I even think I couple of his late spy films, Torn Curtain and Topaz are good, although they're not highly thought of overall.
• Thunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent

  January 2020

  I love North by Northwest and The fourth Protocol, along with The Man from UNCLE and Kingsman
  on TV Spooks and The Games are all worth watching.

  "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
• Golrush007 South AfricaPosts: 3,421Quartermasters

  January 2020

  Many good suggestions in this thread - Ipcress File, Tinker Tailor, Spy Who Came in From the Cold, The Fourth Protocol are all favourites.
  
  In addition to these, I would recommend a very good spy film, based on an excellent novel by Brian Freemantle: Charlie Muffin. This is a made for TV film from 1979, with a very fine cast headed up by David Hemmings as the titular character, a down-at-heel but very wily British agent. I think there is a low quality version of the film on Youtube, but I managed to get a good quality DVD copy in a boxset with other Euston Films productions called 'Armchair Cinema'.
  
  
• QuantumofSolange UKPosts: 133MI6 Agent

  January 2020

  I'd like to suggest The American starring George Clooney and based on a book called A Very Private Gentleman.

  Yes but my martini's still dry.